Remembering Mark “Chumley” Singer: A Man Who Brought Bears Together

The founder of Chumley's BearCruises, a pioneer in LGBTQ+ travel and a lifelong community builder, has passed away at age 65.

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Mark “Chumley” Singer, the beloved founder of Chumley's BearCruises, who died on October 26, 2026, at the age of 65.

For more than two decades, Chumley was a familiar and much-loved figure in the gay bear community. Through his cruises, he brought together thousands of men from around the world, creating opportunities for friendship, adventure, laughter, and, perhaps most importantly, the simple pleasure of being yourself among people who welcomed you exactly as you were.

Chumley founded his cruise company in 2002, with the first sailing taking place in 2003. That inaugural voyage attracted approximately 150 passengers, an impressive beginning for an idea born from a desire to create a different kind of gay travel experience.

At a time when much of the gay travel industry emphasized youthful bodies, glamorous parties, and expensive all-gay charters, Chumley recognized that an enormous part of our community was looking for something else.

His approach was refreshingly straightforward. Rather than chartering an entire ship, he organized large groups aboard regularly scheduled cruises, giving travelers the companionship of a welcoming gay community while retaining the amenities, entertainment, and affordability of a traditional cruise vacation.

Over the years, his groups grew to as many as 550 passengers, with voyages visiting the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, Alaska, and other destinations. His larger fall cruises became annual reunions for many travelers, while smaller spring sailings offered more intimate opportunities to explore and make new friends.

The cruises featured private parties, group dinners, special excursions, games, and entertainment. But their greatest attraction was always the people.

In a 2025 interview on the podcast A Jaded Gay, Chumley explained that the friendships formed over the decades were what made him most proud. He spoke about watching guests welcome newcomers into the group and seeing relationships develop that continued long after everyone returned home.

And those connections were real. Some guests became lifelong friends. Others found romance, including couples who met aboard Chumley's cruises and eventually married.

His contributions extended far beyond the cruise industry. A longtime Philadelphia activist, performer, and event producer, Chumley helped create and host the city's GayBINGO! events, which raised more than $1 million in support of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

He also worked on major Philadelphia celebrations, civic events, and productions, including projects for the Philadelphia Eagles. He served as a founding board member of the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus, helping promote the city as a welcoming destination for LGBTQ+ visitors.

Approximately three months ago, Chumley shared a video on YouTube announcing that he was pausing cruise operations because of health concerns. It was difficult news for a community that had come to associate his name with friendship, adventure, and joyful reunions at sea. Many hoped that the pause would be temporary.

His passing is a tremendous loss, particularly for those who sailed with him year after year and considered themselves part of the Chumley's BearCruise family.

Chumley is survived by his husband, Steven “Ven” Schmidt, whom he married in 2023, and his sister, Aline Zaslow.

In the end, perhaps Chumley's greatest accomplishment wasn't the number of cruises he organized, the destinations he visited, or even the thousands of passengers who traveled with him.

It was the community he helped create.

He understood that sometimes a vacation can change a person's life. A stranger becomes a friend. Someone who has always felt like an outsider discovers a place where he belongs. A man who boarded a ship alone returns home with a whole new family.

And somewhere out there today, there are friendships, relationships, and marriages that might never have happened if Chumley hadn't decided all those years ago to bring a bunch of bears together on a cruise ship.

That's a beautiful legacy to leave behind.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Ven, Chumley's family, friends, and the countless members of the bear community whose lives he touched.

Rest in peace, Chumley. Thank you for the adventures, the friendships, and the extraordinary community you helped build.

Fair winds and following seas.